St. Norbert Women Hang On to Win Thriller

From Sports Information Director, January 19, 2008 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - Nicole Baich's potential game-tying layup went halfway down and rimmed out as time expired to give St. Norbert College a pulsating 84-82 win over Lake Forest College in a Midwest Conference women's basketball game at Schuldes Sports Center.

St. Norbert's win in a game featuring the two conference powers gives the Green Knights a 7-0 record in the Midwest Conference and 10-3 overall. Lake Forest, ranked 19th by D3hoops.com, fell to 5-1, 11-2.

The Green Knights led 75-56 with 4:38 left but saw that entire lead melt away as Lake Forest went on a stunning 26-7 run over the next 4:22 to tie the game at 82-82 with 14 seconds left. With 13 seconds left, Linsey Propson was trapped in a backcourt corner but was fouled by Eileen Walsh. Propson hit the two free throws for the lead. Lake Forest then came down and worked the ball around and found Baich open under the basket but the shot popped out just before the final buzzer sounded.

St. Norbert forged a 39-26 halftime lead thanks to 55 percent shooting. The Foresters cut the deficit to 42-38 before St. Norbert went ahead by its largest margin at 75-56.

The game was marred by 58 turnovers and 58 fouls. St. Norbert had 34 turnovers but was able to score its point total by shooting 54.8 percent from the floor, making 23 of 42 shots. The Green Knights were also 33-for-40 at the free-throw line.

Lake Forest was 27-for-62 (43.5 percent) from the floor and was 25-for-36 at the free-throw line.

Denise Heuser pumped in 23 points to lead St. Norbert, while Propson had 16 points and Morgan Strasser 10. Propson was 11-for-12 at the free-throw line.

Lisa Nassin led Lake Forest with 15 points, while Eileen Walsh had 14 points and Tracy Rainey added 12.